5-13

I always wanted to knit a triangular shawl, but as I do most of my knitting on my daily commute, I always found keeping track of a lace chart really difficult. So I worked out this pattern that makes a fantastic-looking shawl/scarf with a pattern that you'll remember easily.

It's called 5-13, because the pattern only requires you to keep track of 13 stitches in order to create the blocks of 5.

This one was with one ball of Noro Silk Garden, but the beauty of the pattern is its versatility. Use any yarn, any needles, and cast off at any time.

You'll need to know how to pick up stitches, how to do yarn overs (yo), how to knit two together (k2tog), how to slip-slip-knit (ssk), and how to slip-one knit-two-together pass-slipped-stitch-over (s1 k2tog psso).

Items needed:

• 1 50g ball of double-knit (DK) yarn - or any yarn of your choice
• 4mm/6 (US)/8 (UK) circular needles (or whatever size you want to use)
• 4 stitch markers
• Row counter

Tension

Tension doesn't matter too much, just make sure you can tell the difference between your regular stitches and your yarn-overs.

Pattern

Cast on 3 stitches.

Knit 6 rows.

Pick up and knit 3 stitches along the right edge, knit the 3 main stitches, pick up and knit 3 stitches along the left edge. You have 9 stitches now.

Knit 3, place marker, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, place marker, knit 1, place marker, yarn over, [knit 1], yarn over, place marker, knit 3. The markers indicate the edges, body (indicated by []) and centre stitch.

Knit 3, purl until last stitch marker, knit 3.

Use the row counter to keep track of the body stitches. On every knit row, it'll increase by 2 (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13).

Repeat these two rows until there are 11 body stitches.

* On the next knit row, knit 3, yarn over, knit 5, yarn over, slip 1 stitch, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, yarn over, knit 5, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, knit 5, yarn over, slip 1 stitch, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, yarn over, knit 5, yarn over, knit 3.

Knit 3, purl until last stitch marker, knit 3.

Knit 3, yarn over, knit 4, knit 2 together, yarn over, [knit 3], yarn over, slip slip knit, knit 4, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, knit 4, knit 2 together, yarn over [knit 3], yarn over, slip slip knit, knit 4, yarn over, knit 3.

Knit 3, purl until the last stitch marker, knit 3.

Repeat this until the body stitches reach 11 again. Then repeat the * row, and start again.

You'll keep repeating this until you finish.

Cast off as normal.

Block tightly to ensure good definition and enjoy!